my abc

Martha Rodgers

Played by Susan Sullivan

character

Castle’s mother, Martha Rodgers, is a former Broadway actress who never quite made it as big as she thinks. But that hasn’t stopped her from seeking whatever spotlight she can. Despite being swindled out of her savings by an ex-husband, and being forced to move in with her son and granddaughter Alexis, Martha is happy to keep family close by. She’s always there to point Castle in the right direction…or whichever direction she thinks is right. She may not have all the right answers but Martha stands by her family with loyalty, love and usually a glass of wine. These days, Martha is hard at work putting together an acting school where she can impart her formidable thespian skills and shower students with her unique outlook on life.

actor

Two-time Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Susan Sullivan is well known to television audiences for her starring roles in the long running hits "Dharma & Greg" and "Falcon Crest." She has also made numerous guest appearances, including in "Two and a Half Men," "The Nine" and "Judging Amy."

Born in New York, Sullivan attended Hofstra University on a drama scholarship. On Broadway she starred in "Jimmy Shine," opposite Dustin Hoffman, and in "The Beauty Part." Off Broadway she played the leads in "The Fourth Wall," "Buffalo Gal" and "Love, Loss and What I Wore." She toured with the L.A. Theatre Works production of "The Pentagon Papers." Her extensive list of regional theater credits includes "Fifth of July" at the Mark Taper Forum and the National Touring Company's production of "Uncle Vanya," as well as "The Three Sisters." Sullivan also appeared in "Twelfth Night," "Macbeth" and "The Winter's Tale" for PBS. She is a member of both the Matrix and Antaeus Theatre companies in Los Angeles. During recent "Castle" hiatuses, Susan (and co-star Molly Quinn) appeared in "Kindertransport" at L.A. Theatre Works and Susan starred opposite David Selby in a revival of Albee's classic "A Delicate Balance" at the Odyssey Theatre.

In addition to her series roles, Sullivan has starred in numerous features and made-for-television movies, including "My Best Friend's Wedding," "The Incredible Hulk," "Midway," "A Perfect Stranger" and "Rich Man, Poor Man."

A founding member of the Celebrity Action Council at the Los Angeles Mission, Sullivan has served on the Board of the Felice Foundation and been a spokesperson for the National Hospice Foundation and Save the Children. She is also now on the board of the SAG foundation, trying to bring actors into our underserved schools.

Sullivan is bi-coastal and shares her life with noted psychologist and author Dr. Connell Cowan and a couple of finicky feline friends.